Bears' front office should avoid making a move everyone is calling for despite back-to-back losses ahead of trade deadline
Changes need to be made for the Chicago Bears following back-to-back disappointing losses after the bye week, but the front office can't be drastic.The Bears aren't going to fire head coach Matt Eberflus or offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after eight games with the team sitting at 4-4. There are some moves that should be made […]
Changes need to be made for the Chicago Bears following back-to-back disappointing losses after the bye week, but the front office can't be drastic.
The Bears aren't going to fire head coach Matt Eberflus or offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after eight games with the team sitting at 4-4. There are some moves that should be made on the staff, however.
As for the players on the roster, the front office can't do anything drastic there either.
The Bears do have some players who make sense to trade away ahead of the NFL trade deadline that ends on Tuesday at 4:00 pm, such as running back Khalil Herbert and guard Nate Davis. However, those calling for a Keenan Allen trade are delusional.
On quick glance, I can see where some of those fans calling for Allen to be traded are coming from. The veteran receiver is off to the worst start of his career and has had a lot of bad miscues with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
At this point, it's fair to say that the 12th year wide receiver won't be returning for another year in Chicago once his contract expires after this season, especially with how quickly rookie Rome Odunze is coming along.
With all the injuries to the position around the league, teams such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Kansas City Chiefs will likely be calling over the next 24 or so hours. But the Bears shouldn't entertain any offers unless the other team offers a Day 2 pick.
The Bears only had to give up a fourth-round pick to acquire Allen this offseason to give their rookie quarterback a veteran presence in the passing game. Letting Allen walk as a free agent and sign a sizable deal elsewhere will likely give the Bears a compensatory pick.
Therefore, it'd make no sense to trade away Allen now. Even with his disappointing performances this season, the offense still needs Allen and so does Williams. Just look at what the veteran had to say about the rookie three weeks ago.
"Ever since I've been here, ever since he's been drafted, we've always had the connection, the relationship," Allen said. "Just going back and forth, laughing, whatever it is, talking football, video games, playing cards, you know, whatever."
As for his role inside the crowded offense, Allen has let any of the frustrations he might have had with his usage settle down.
"We were talking about it with the receiver room that we have with the weapons," Allen added. "As a quarterback, I don't think you need to look at one person versus if you have like a Justin Jefferson… no disrespect to those guys, but you've got Justin Jefferson, you've got to get him the ball every damn play. We got guys you can get the ball to. So it is what it is."
In Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Allen had the most targets (10) on the team but only turned those targets into four receptions for 36 yards. The week before, Allen had seven targets, two receptions, and 39 yards.
It's been disappointing and frustrating at times, but Williams is still trying to get his connections ironed out with all his weapons, not just Allen. And having Allen's veteran experience in the locker room goes a long way.
Performance from Bears’ rookie offers a small silver lining from an otherwise forgettable loss against the Cardinals
Nice to see him eat once again.
